LONDON: A documentary aired on BBC on Monday night has exposed how migrant workers, including Indians, recruited to work on fishing ships owned by a Scottish company have been exploited, trafficked, mistreated, and are victims of modern slavery.
The three year-investigation by current affair series “Disclosure” reveals how migrants were recruited by agents in the Philippines, Ghana, India and Indonesia to work on boats owned by TN Trawlers and its sister companies, owned by the Nicholson family in Annan, Scotland.The workers told the programme that on board food and water was scarce, health and safety regulations were breached, their passports were confiscated, working hours were excessive and they were either underpaid or not paid at all.
The BBC identified 35 former employees of TN Trawlers who have been recognised by the home office as victims of modern slavery. To date there have been no convictions in relation to these allegations. TN Trawlers refutes the allegations.
Among those to feature in “Slavery at Sea” are Vishal Sharma (29) from Punjab, India. An experienced seafarer, he arrived in London in 2017 on a seafarers’ transit visa with acontract to join Belgium tanker MT Waasmunster to work in the engine room as a wiper. But his agent rang him from India and told him to travel to Southwick and join a much smaller fishing boat, a TN scallop trawler, Noordzee. He told the programme that he was never paid and had never fished a day in his life.
“Where could I complain? You are in the sea,” he said. “The skipper told me you don’t have the right papers. If I call the police they will catch you and you will go to jail. That was scary, innit? If I go back there [India] I have nothing,” he said.
Working alongside him was Shine Chakkappan, also from India. “That time I have no money as my mother is a cancer patient. I needed one job, anything,” he told the programme.
The two men were eventually removed from the ship by UK police. The documentary also details the mistreatment of workers from the Philippines, Ghana and Indonesia, one of whom died and two of whom suffered injuries on board. Whilst some criminal cases were brought, many were not prosecuted owing to a lack of evidence.
A UK government spokesperson said: “Border Force are working to ensure that action is taken against those who exploit vulnerable people in our waters, including through the imposition of fines and suspension of sponsor licences.” The skilled worker visa is the only visa route for non-UK fishermen to work in the UK waters.
The three year-investigation by current affair series “Disclosure” reveals how migrants were recruited by agents in the Philippines, Ghana, India and Indonesia to work on boats owned by TN Trawlers and its sister companies, owned by the Nicholson family in Annan, Scotland.The workers told the programme that on board food and water was scarce, health and safety regulations were breached, their passports were confiscated, working hours were excessive and they were either underpaid or not paid at all.
The BBC identified 35 former employees of TN Trawlers who have been recognised by the home office as victims of modern slavery. To date there have been no convictions in relation to these allegations. TN Trawlers refutes the allegations.
Among those to feature in “Slavery at Sea” are Vishal Sharma (29) from Punjab, India. An experienced seafarer, he arrived in London in 2017 on a seafarers’ transit visa with acontract to join Belgium tanker MT Waasmunster to work in the engine room as a wiper. But his agent rang him from India and told him to travel to Southwick and join a much smaller fishing boat, a TN scallop trawler, Noordzee. He told the programme that he was never paid and had never fished a day in his life.
“Where could I complain? You are in the sea,” he said. “The skipper told me you don’t have the right papers. If I call the police they will catch you and you will go to jail. That was scary, innit? If I go back there [India] I have nothing,” he said.
Working alongside him was Shine Chakkappan, also from India. “That time I have no money as my mother is a cancer patient. I needed one job, anything,” he told the programme.
The two men were eventually removed from the ship by UK police. The documentary also details the mistreatment of workers from the Philippines, Ghana and Indonesia, one of whom died and two of whom suffered injuries on board. Whilst some criminal cases were brought, many were not prosecuted owing to a lack of evidence.
A UK government spokesperson said: “Border Force are working to ensure that action is taken against those who exploit vulnerable people in our waters, including through the imposition of fines and suspension of sponsor licences.” The skilled worker visa is the only visa route for non-UK fishermen to work in the UK waters.
